Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

Each year, the Kennedy Center recognizes several people from the artistic
community for the impact they have had upon American culture. This year’s
recipients are Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, composer Jerry Herman,
choreographer Bill T. Jones, and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. The ceremony will
be held on December 5 in Washington, D.C. President and Mrs. Obama are planning
not only to attend the event but also to host the honorees at the White House.
The program will be broadcast on CBS on December 28.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces Nominees for 2011 Ballot

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has assembled a ballot of potential inductees
for its 2011 ceremony, which will be held on March 14 at New York City’s
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Ballots have been sent to more than 500 professionals
within the music industry. The current slate of artists includes many previous
nominees who have not yet been able to garner enough votes to gain admission to
the prestigious institution. These are LL Cool J, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer,
Darlene Love, Beastie Boys, Dr. John, Chic, Chuck Willis, and Joe Tex. Six
additional performers — Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi,
Donovan, and J. Geils Band — are on the ballot for the first time. Only
performers who issued their debut single or album prior to 1986 are eligible for
induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

Sing Out! Founder Irwin Silber Dies

On September 8, Irwin Silber passed away at the age of 84 after suffering
from complications stemming from his longstanding bout with Alzheimer’s disease.
Silber founded the folk magazine Sing Out! in 1950. Quickly assuming the
mantle of editor, he remained with the publication until 1967. Consequently, he
was instrumental in shaping and documenting the folk-music revival as well as
the rejuvenated blues scene of the 1960s. As such, Silber was an early champion
of Bob Dylan. In late 1964, after the release of Another Side of Bob Dylan,
however, Silber chastised the artist for straying from his roots. Silber had
seen Dylan perform his new material at the Newport Folk Festival and was
troubled by the introspective nature of his songs. In 1967, after leaving his
post as editor at Sing Out!, Silber began writing for the weekly paper Guardian. A few years later, he started Paredon, an independent label
specializing in protest tunes.

King Solomon Passes Away

Solomon Burke — the self-proclaimed King of Rock and Soul whose stage
frequently included a royal robe, crown, and throne — passed away of natural
causes on October 10 while en route to a performance in Amsterdam. Burke was
pronounced dead at the scene shortly after his plane from Los Angeles touched
down at the Schiphol Airport.

Born 70 years ago in Philadelphia, Burke transformed himself from a gospel
singer into an R&B sensation in the early 1960s. His hit singles — Cry to Me
and Everybody Needs Somebody to Love — served as an inspiration to
British bands like the Rolling Stones. Burke’s star had faded by the early
1970s, and disgruntled by his fate, he receded from the spotlight.

Burke’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 set the stage
for a full-fledged revival of his career. Collaborating with producer Joe Henry
and a host of sympathetic songwriters (including Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, and
Brian Wilson), Burke assembled Don’t Give Up on Me. Winning in the
category of Best Contemporary Blues Album, it was the only effort in his canon
that was honored with a Grammy Award. With striking regularity, Burke reappeared
with new albums — Nashville, Like a Fire, and Nothing’s
Impossible, among them. Focusing upon various aspects of his approach, each
of them not only reminded the world of his groundbreaking early work, but also
extended his rich legacy. At the time of his death, Burke was putting the
finishing touches upon his latest set Hold on Tight, which was issued
last month.